Match report: Motherwell 3-2 Saints

The Perth side took an early lead as Makenzie Kirk sent a fine strike high into the net for his eighth Premiership goal of the season.

However, Motherwell came back and scored two-goals in a minute to turn the match around. Firstly, Callum Slattery levelled the match for the Fir Park side with a shot from the edge of the area on 39 minutes. The Steelmen then took the lead as Johnny Koutroumbis saw his strike take a deflection off Sven Sprangler before finding the net.

Motherwell got a third goal on 48 minutes when Tom Sparrow turned home a Dom Thompson cross from six yards.

Saints substitute Elliot Watt pulled a goal back on 66 minutes with a fine low effort from just outside the box. However, despite late pressure Saints couldn’t find an equaliser as Motherwell saw the game out to secure the 3 points.

Saints are back in action next Saturday as they welcome Kilmarnock to McDiarmid Park, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints got their post-split fixtures underway this afternoon as they headed to North Lanarkshire to take on Motherwell at Fir Park. There were three changes to the Saints starting eleven which started the 5-0 Scottish Gas Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic last Sunday as Barry Douglas, Victor Griffith and Nicky Clark all dropped to the bench. They were replaced by Taylor Steven, Josh McPake and Makenzie Kirk. Motherwell battled out a goalless draw at home to Hearts a fortnight ago and manager Michael Wimmer made two changes to his starting line-up for this afternoon’s William Hill Premiership match as Harry Paton and Johnny Koutroumbis came into the starting eleven to replace Kofi Balmer and Tawanda Maswanhise.

It was a dreich afternoon as Callum Slattery got the match underway for the hosts. The Steelmen were given the first chance of the match to create something on 5 minutes when Lennon Miller won the home side a free kick out wide on the left following a foul by Stephen Duke-McKenna. The midfielder took the free kick himself as he whipped the ball into the box however, Makenzie Kirk got up well to head clear the danger.

Then a minute later Saints took the lead. A ball out from the back by Andy Fisher picked out Graham Carey in midfield and the Irishman then sent a brilliant ball down the left channel to play in Josh McPake. The winger then broke into the box before cutting the ball back to Kirk who blasted a fine effort high into the net to give Saints the perfect start.

Saints almost doubled their lead 2 minutes later as McPake played in Taylor Steven and his cross into the Well box deflected off Johnny Koutroumbis as Ellery Balcombe gathered the ball.  

PHOTO: Makenzie Kirk celebrates his goal

On 20 minutes Harry Paton sent over a dangerous ball from the left however, Steven was alert to the danger as he got back to head it behind for a corner. Andy Halliday took the corner from the left and his delivery broke to Paton on the edge of the box however, the Canadian sliced his effort over the bar.

Good play by McPake 2 minutes later saw the Saints winger draw the foul from Koutroumbis as Saints were awarded a free kick out wide on the left. Carey took the free kick as his whipped delivery was met by Steven however, he couldn’t test Balcombe with his header as the Steelmen rearguard eventually cleared the danger.

Motherwell stepped up their efforts from an equaliser just before the half an hour mark as on 28 minutes Slattery saw his volley on the turn go wide of the target. Then a minute later the Well midfielder unleashed a strike which Fisher got down well to as he turned the ball behind for a corner.

On 38 minutes Motherwell came close to an equaliser as a Miller corner from the right was met by Casey however, the defender put his header over the bar.

PHOTO: Josh McPake battles with Callum Slattery

Motherwell though were level a minute later as Tony Watt cross from the left picked out Slattery and he slammed a low effort beyond Fisher and into the net. Then a minute later Motherwell were ahead. Watt again proved the assist as his cross into the box from the left was met by Koutroumbis whose strike cannoned off Sven Sprangler and before landing in the net.

Kirk won Saints a free kick on 43 minutes after the Saints forward was fouled by Slattery. The free kick was taken by Carey however, his effort went narrowly wide. Saints pushed for an equaliser as 3 minutes of additional time was added on at the end of the first half. In the first minute of stoppage time a Carey corner from the right was met by McPake however, he could find the target with his header.

Motherwell extended their lead 3 minutes into the second half as Dom Thompson did well to get the better of Duke-McKenna before crossing the ball across the face of the Saints goal for Tom Sparrow to turn home from six yards.

A good ball across the edge of the Motherwell box on 50 minutes from Carey picked out Steven however, his strike was saved by Balcombe.

PHOTO: Callum Slattery is tackled by Taylor Steven

Motherwell continued to push to further extend their lead as 2 minutes later Miller fired over from the edge of the area.

Saints made a double change on 58 minutes as Uche Ikpeazu and Elliot Watt were introduced into the action, replacing Adama Sidibeh and Stephen Duke-McKenna.

Both substitutions were quickly involved in the action as a minute later a Watt corner from the left resulted in a goalmouth stramash as McPake got on the end of the delivery before Ikpeazu tried to turn the ball home from close range before Balcombe came out to smother the ball.

On 65 minutes a chipped cross from Watt was met by Sparrow however, the header from the midfielder was comfortably saved by Fisher.

PHOTO: Uche Ikpeazu is denied by Ellery Balcombe

Then a minute later Saints pulled a goal back as McPake picked out Watt on the edge of the area and the on-loan midfielder took a touch before firing a fine low effort into the net.

Saints were now pushing for an equaliser and with 13 minutes remaining McPake saw his strike deflected behind for a corner by Sparrow.

Watt got a great chance to end the game as a contest on 79 minutes as the former Saints player was played in by Motherwell substitute Luke Armstrong who cut the ball back to the forward however, Fisher made a brilliant block to keep Saints in the game.

Play quickly switched to the other end as Carey unleashed a strike from distance that went wide of the target.

PHOTO: Elliot Watt scores to make it 3-2

Saints then made their final change of the game as Benji Kimpioka came on to replace Jason Holt.

The closing stages of the match saw Saints push forward for an equaliser as they applied pressure to the makeshift Motherwell defence. 5 minutes were added on at the end and deep into stoppage time Saints came close to an equaliser as Watt sent over a cross from the left which Ikpeazu got on the end of however, the forward could find the target with his header as the hosts saw the came out to secure a narrow win.

Motherwell: Balcombe, O’Donnell, Sparrow, Slattery (Andrews 90+2’), Halliday (Zdravkovski 81’), Paton (Armstrong 70’), Casey, Koutroumbis, Miller, Watt (Ebiye 81’), Thompson

Unused Substitutes: Oxborough (GK), Seddon, Wilson, Dickson, Tavares  

Booked: Slattery, O’Donnell, Halliday, Sparrow

Scorers: Slattery (39’), Sprangler (40’ og), Sparrow (48’)

Saints: Fisher, Balodis, Holt (Kimpioka 84’), Carey, Sidibeh (Ikpeazu 58’), Steven, Duke-McKenna (Watt 58’), Sprangler, McPake, Kirk, Curtis

Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Griffith, Svedberg, Clark, Douglas, Franczak

Booked: Ikpeazu

Scorers: Kirk (6’), Watt (66’)

Referee: Steven McLean

VAR: John Beaton

Attendance: 4,412 (463 Saints fans)

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Tony Watt is tackled by Sven Sprangler